Louisiana plantations evoke images of grandeur and elegance. Beyond the façade of stately homes are stories of hope and subjugation, tragedy and suffering, shame and perseverance and war and conquest.
Beloved lunch counters, oyster houses, roadside diners and elegant dining rooms—Seattle has seen the best of them all come and go. Manca’s Café invented the beloved Dutch Baby pancake, while Trader Vi
The spirits of the early pioneers still roam the streets of Leavenworth and lurk in the lengthening shadows of the surrounding hills. Chas Gordon’s murder sits unsolved after a century of mystery, as
Although Illinois saw no dramatic witch trials, witchcraft has been a part of Illinois history and culture from French exploration to the present day. On the Illinois frontier, pioneers pressed silver
Northwest Arkansas’ High South cuisine is replete with nostalgia, fresh ingredients, tall tales and rural roots. In the 1890s, Ozark apples fed the nation. Welch’s Concord grapes grew in Arkansas vine
An American invention, the cocktail fluctuated in popularity following Prohibition and had firmly taken root in the culinary landscape by the 1990s. The Bay Area played a significant role in reviving
Arkansas’s booze scene had a promising start, with America’s biggest brewing families, Busch and Lemp, investing in Little Rock just prior to Prohibition. However, by 1915, the state had passed the Ne
In the mid-’70s, the University of Georgia football team caused quite a stir off the field. Several players had encounters with the manipulative “Godfather of Pro Wrestling” and his money-for-sex sche
The Cucamonga Valley was once America’s largest wine-producing region, crafting quality vintages decades before Napa and Sonoma. Secondo Guasti, an ambitious and enterprising Italian immigrant, establ
The Treasure Coast is such a popular destination that some choose to never leave. From the spirits of ancient Indians who once inhabited the beaches to the pirates who spied for passing victims from t
Ranked among the top ten states for both disasters and dry climate, Colorado has a long history of extreme weather. On May 19, 1864, residents of the fledgling gold rush town of Denver awoke to a wall
In the autumn of 1940, two icons of American culture met in Sun Valley, Idaho—writer Ernest Hemingway and actor Gary Cooper. Although “Hem” was known as brash, larger-than-life and hard-drinking and “
The Prohibition era often conjures up images of Tommy guns and speakeasies, but prohibition in Columbus added up to more than a crime stat sheet. It continued to dramatically shape the city far beyond
Richmond’s historic houses of worship cannot be separated from the city’s storied past. A young Patrick Henry sparked a revolution with his “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech inside St. John’s
Beyond the idyllic countryside and suburban communities of Long Island lies a murky history of murder and mayhem. A Victorian romance went awry in Huntington when wealthy farmer Charles Kelsey was tar
Countless Michiganian women performed extraordinary acts that challenged and improved the world. Madame Marie-Therese Cadillac served as the medicine woman in the frontier that became Detroit. Annie T
In 1955, the Central Intelligence Agency established a clandestine base of operations in the Nevada desert with a mission to protect the United States from a growing communist threat. Special projects
Most know Florida as the land of endless sunny beaches, but the state is home to numerous eerie legends and mysterious creatures. The Everglades is home to the elusive Skunk Ape, a strange bipedal cre
Few places are as obsessed with the paranormal as New Jersey, and the area once known as West Jersey is a hotbed of supernatural activity. The ghost of a young boy in Mannington appears to welcome gue
Providence has one of the nation’s most intact historic downtowns and is one of America’s most beautiful cities. The history of architectural change in the city is one of lost buildings, urban renewal
Fueled by ambition and pipe dreams, Fargo’s earliest residents created an entire city out of the dust of a flat, desolate prairie. Roberts Street might not exist if it weren’t for Matilda Roberts, a r
North Alabama built its fi rst commercial brewery in Huntsville in 1819, three months before the state joined the Union. Before Prohibition in 1915, the region was peppered with numerous saloons, tave
Over the generations, Cherokee citizens became a conglomerate people. Early in the nineteenth century, tribal leaders adapted their government to mirror the new American model. While accommodating ins
From the days of the gaslit opera houses through the era of the drive-in, the Mahoning Valley’s theatrical culture has thrived. The finest theaters in northeastern Ohio rose with the manufacturing mig
Montanans’ football obsession goes far beyond storied college programs. From Baker to Zurich, even the tiniest towns in Montana have sent players to the NFL. One of the most dominant offensive linemen
While known for the twang of its country music, Nashville is also home to a colorful and salacious past. The earliest settlers to lay claim to the land surrounding Nashville brought with them betrayal
Confederate brigadier general John Adams refused to leave his men despite his own critical injuries and died at the Battle of Franklin. Until recently, his service was rarely acknowledged. During his
From the clash of college to the best married shooting duo in history, the Lone Star State clears every hurdle the sports world offers. A former Texas Christian basketball player became the first tenu
Hudson Valley is steeped in mysteries, from Celtic chambers resting in the deep woods of Putnam to Millbrook’s abandoned Bennett College. In the Highlands, Iroquois chief Daniel Nimham gave his life f
The ruins of Daniel Shays’s fortified settlement reveal the hidden story of the famous rebellion. Shays and the Regulators founded the settlement deep in the Vermont wilderness after fleeing the upris
The Plott hound has reached worldwide fame through the contributions of many colorful characters from the Southern Appalachians. Quill Rose—a legendary local outlaw, moonshiner, gunfighter and more—he
From ancient bayous to beloved old businesses, Metairie has changed dramatically over generations. And many of those landmarks are lost to time. The lake, railroads and a beach resort were popular fea
Louisiana is famous for its culinary delights, and the state’s rich medley of treats and confections proves its sweet tooth. Creative bakers improvised traditional recipes during days of rationing to
Created in 1920, the 500,000-acre Nantahala National Forest dominates the rugged southwestern corner of North Carolina. Rivers such as the Cheoah, Cullasaja, Chattooga, Nantahala and Tuckasegee carve
At midcentury, two federal urban renewal projects in the gritty, blue-collar navy town of Portsmouth decimated two neighborhoods. But in the 1970s and ’80s—thanks to an influx of artisans, chefs and e
A young commercial wine industry notwithstanding, winemaking traditions run deep in the Mount Rushmore State. Sodbusting pioneers like Anna Pesä and Jon Vojta defied South Dakota’s harsh terrain and p
From Muscle Shoals to Mobile, Alabamians enjoy fabulous barbecue at home, at club meetings and at countless eateries. In the 1820s, however, a group of reformers wanted to eliminate the southern stapl
The family of Laguna Beach founding father Joseph S. Thurston claimed a shack in Aliso Canyon in 1871, when he was just three years old. Thurston’s personal account of growing up in Laguna presents an
Long neglected in the annals of American music, the Nutmeg State’s influence on the history of rock’n’roll deserves recognition. Connecticut’s musical highlights include the beautiful harmonies of New
Minnesota’s caves have a deep history. Carver’s Cave is the first to be described in the literature of North America after explorer Jonathan Carver visited it in 1766. The storied Fountain Cave was th
